Category: April 2021

Earl Sterndale, Derbyshire – April 2021

This was an intended walk from Earl Sterndale to Chrome Hill, also known as The Dragon’s Back. Park outside the church, opposite ‘The Quiet Woman’ pub.

It was one of those days where intention and actuality don’t overlap and I didn’t get far. It’s a walk to definitely go back to but it requires a level of fitness I didn’t have on that particular day…

To be fair, I’d overdone the walking the week before at over nine miles and hadn’t quite recovered!

Enjoy the pictures of clouds and dramatic skies, the lambs at their gambolling and frolicking stage and daffodils.

These pictures and videos are @Aidan Parr 2021, so please ask permission if you want to use them. I’ll probably say ‘yes’!

Ashbourne to Mapleton, Derbyshire – April 2021

This walk started in Ashbourne right at the beginning of the railway tunnel which was once part of the train line joining Ashbourne to Buxton which was closed in 1963. It’s now the splendid Tissington Trail. I’ll cover that in another post.

Park in the Ashbourne Leisure Centre Car Park and you’ll see the tunnel. I cut across country eastwards when I got out of the other end of the tunnel, eventually walking along the River Dove.

The walk ends at the almost Orthodox-looking church at Mapleton. I returned by going up the hill behind the church and joining the Tissington Train back to Ashbourne. There’s lots of beautiful countryside, horses, sheep, donkeys, alpacas and other wildlife on the way.

Apologies if there are too many pictures, it’s sometimes hard to know when to stop when I’ve enjoyed a good day out…

These pictures and videos are @Aidan Parr 2021, so please ask permission if you want to use them. I’ll probably say ‘yes’!

Mapleton to Dovedale, Derbyshire – April 2021

Another cracking walk in Derbyshire starting at Mapleton (sometimes spelt ‘Mappleton’), parking outside the local church, a curious looking building that looks like it should be on a Greek island somewhere but built from sandstone.

Mapleton is less than two miles by car from Ashbourne but there is also a splendid walk from there to Mapleton partly using the start of the Tissington Trail in Ashbourne and the old railway tunnel. I’ll post on that walk at a later date.

I walked from Mapleton to Dovedale but accidentally ended up in Ilam, which was no displeasure. Another walk around there is definitely needed at a later date.

Then it was over the hill to Dovedale which was very busy. It’s worth going early or out of season to appreciate the area without falling over tourists!

Then back to Mapleton going around Thorpe Cloud. It’s quite a challenging walk at this stage (for me) but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The tourists melted away at this stage. Go up Thorpe Cloud for a fantastic view.

These pictures and videos are @Aidan Parr 2021, so please ask permission if you want to use them. I’ll probably say ‘yes’!